Legal Updates

Alex McLeish set to join Aston Villa after resignation

Alex McLeish resigned from Birmingham City football club and now looks set to join rivals Aston Villa.

It is anticipated that McLeish will bring a constructive dismissal claim against Birmingham, who, in turn, will likely seek compensation from their rivals.

McLeish`s resigned by email with immediate effect. The League Managers` Association say he did so because his position had been made untenable by the alleged behaviour of the board. If his employers were in fundamental breach of his contract, he would be entitled to treat this as a repudiation of his contract and resign without notice. Any Restrictive Covenants in his employment contract regarding working for a competitor, such as Aston Villa, would then be void.

It is expected that Birmingham will counter argue that McLeish resigned because of prior negotiations with Aston Villa and that Aston Villa induced him to act in breach of his terms of contract with them, in breach of Premier League rules. Further, that there is a clause in McLeish`s contract which entitles the club to compensation as a result of the early termination of his contract, which still had two years left to run.

Clarkslegal, specialist Employment lawyers in London, Reading and throughout the Thames Valley.

For further information about this or any other Employment matter please contact Clarkslegal's employment team by email at employmentunit@clarkslegal.com by telephone 020 7539 8000 (London office), 0118 958 5321 (Reading office) or by completing the form on this page.